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Police to review accident figures | |
(1 day later) | |
Police chiefs have promised to study figures showing the number of crashes involving vehicles on operational duties in a bid to reduce casualties. | |
Statistics showed that Scottish forces' vehicles had been involved in more than 5,000 traffic accidents in the past five years. | |
The figures show nine people were killed as a result of these accidents and 55 were seriously injured. | The figures show nine people were killed as a result of these accidents and 55 were seriously injured. |
The statistics included vehicles involved in 999 calls and pursuits. | |
The information was obtained in response to a parliamentary question from Lib Dem MSP Margaret Smith. | |
Fire service and ambulance vehicles were not included in the figures. | Fire service and ambulance vehicles were not included in the figures. |
'Obviously disturbing' | |
Ms Smith said: "The fact that emergency service vehicles are the cause of so many accidents and fatalities is extremely concerning. | |
"I have written to both the justice secretary and the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) calling for a review of the procedures used by emergency service vehicles to look into how accidents can be minimised." | |
Tayside Chief Constable John Vine, a spokesman for Acpos, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that the figures were "obviously disturbing". | |
"I think that any death or serious injury associated with a pursuit by an emergency vehicle is a tragedy and we would obviously want to minimise the likelihood of those accidents occurring. | |
"What we want to do now is carefully look at these figures and see if our procedures, which incidentally were reviewed only last year, are now adequate." | |
He said new procedures were introduced by forces across the country last year which meant only certain categories of police driver could be involved in pursuits. | |
The powers of those in the control rooms were strengthened so they could call off a pursuit if it was deemed to be dangerous. | |
He added: "We have already reviewed our procedures but I think in light of these figures I would be quite happy to look at them again and respond to the MSP's request as soon as we feasibly can." | |
POLICE VEHICLE ACCIDENT FIGURES Year Total accidents Fatalities Injuries 2002/3 1278 2 13 2003/4 966 0 9 2004/5 1252 1 6 2005/6 997 3 12 2006/7 938 3 15 | POLICE VEHICLE ACCIDENT FIGURES Year Total accidents Fatalities Injuries 2002/3 1278 2 13 2003/4 966 0 9 2004/5 1252 1 6 2005/6 997 3 12 2006/7 938 3 15 |
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